Destination Detox: Inside Europe’s best wellness retreats

Destination Detox: Inside Europe’s best wellness retreats

February and March are the new June and July. Don't believe us? Take a look around the office and count the empty desks. Fresh off the heels of the year’s two toughest months, the start of spring offers boundless opportunity and a sunny outlook, hence why it’s the perfect time to indulge in some critical ‘me time’. We're not talking about all-inclusive drinks and French fries by the pool though, this pre-summer getaway is about winding down in order to build back up – a delight for both the body and mind. From boot camp to vipassana, yoga to juice detoxes, this is the time to really make good habits stick, so that when it finally comes to summer, you can really enjoy it. Read on for our pick of the best wellness getaways in Europe:

THE ONE THAT FEELS LIKE A HOLIDAY MARINE ESCAPE; RADISSON BLU 1835 HOTEL & THALASSO, CANNES

Six days, 24 treatments. There’s no need to say more. Radisson Blu’s ‘Marine Escape’ package is designed to fully service the body with minimal effort – perfect for those who seek solace in a fluffy, white bathrobe and an aromatherapy massage. With its own private beach, the hotel boasts a full-service spa, Turkish baths and a rooftop restaurant. Wake up to the sound of the ocean and spend long days nourishing the body with Thalassotherapy sessions – the therapeutic use of seawater, algae and seaweed to promote health – yoga, healthy food that actually tastes good, and half-board accommodation so that all thinking time and decision-making is kept on the down low.

Indulge in this Cure package and enjoy 4 spa treatments per day for as many as 6 days.

THE LIFE CHANGER YEOTOX; YEOTOWN RETREAT, NORTH DEVON, UK

Based in picturesque North Devon, mapped by rolling hills and glorious surf, Yeotown offers its signature Yeotox programme – ‘a modern take on a traditional detox’. Over the course of five days you enlist in both physical and mental endurance and release – coastal hikes, strength training, reading, massage – and are fuelled by a ‘fad-free’ diet (no cabbage soup here). This isn't a detox or retreat that you leave at the checkout desk, the programme is designed to set you up for life, those five blissful days are a mere side product. The Yeotox programme runs every week from Wednesday to Sunday.

The five-day Yeotox Programme costs £1,870 and all accommodation and meals are included.

This macrobiotic-based wellness spa and clinic is the best of both worlds – it’s luxurious and good for you. Designed to detoxify and purify the body, help you combine a healthy diet with physical exercise and complementary therapies, and improve your general physical and mental wellbeing, the Detox Programme is like a check box of solutions to everything that’s wrong with city life. Don't let the five-star accommodation lure you into a false sense of security; a week here is no walk in the park. You'll be assessed through a medical exam and laboratory tests, and then prescribed a diet for the week, Chinese medicine and therapeutic treatments, and even lymphatic drainage, cryotherapy and colon hydrotherapy. Literally, a new you.

A seven-day Detox Programme costs €3,150 and all accommodation and meals are included.

THE ESCAPE FROM REALITYESCAPE TO SHAPE, LAKE COMO, ITALY (AND VARIOUS OTHER LOCATIONS)

There’s no point in going somewhere Instagrammable and sunny only to spend a week holed up in a yoga studio or weights room. Escape to Shape offers a curated blend of travel, culture and wellness, and is designed to give you an off-the-beaten-track experience within some of the world’s most beautiful cities and towns. Although the company offers retreats everywhere from Cambodia to Chile, the Lake Como one is one of our favourites. Italian food? We're in. The only effort you need to make is pushing the button on the booking and travel to Milan. Once you're there, revel in the indulgence and luxury of an exclusive nineteenth century villa (complete with swimming pool, tennis courts and unparalleled views of Lake Como), enjoy morning power hikes, daily yoga, cooking lessons and cultural day trips. Still at your desk? You know what you need to do.

A six-day retreat at Lake Como, Italy costs $4,500, based on two people sharing, and includes all accommodation and meals.

REGISTER NOW

We use our own and third-party cookies to provide you with the best experience of our website, gather statistical information and deliver publicity to you. Without them its functionality will be reduced. Please click on the "X" to confirm that you agree to our use of cookies on this website. Alternatively, please click here for details of how to change your cookies settings.